British man held in Phnom Penh drug raids

Police in Phnom Penh have arrested a British national accused of producing cannabis‑laced sweets, alongside 18 others detained in a series of anti‑drug operations across the Cambodian capital.

The crackdown, led by Lieutenant General Chuon Narin and the city’s Anti‑Drug Crime Bureau, saw raids on five separate sites over the past week. Officers seized more than seven kilogrammes of methamphetamine, ketamine and over ten kilogrammes of marijuana.

Authorities say the British suspect was part of a ring manufacturing cannabis edibles, including fruit‑flavoured lollies, gummies and pastels.

Cambodia has become a growing hub for foreign traffickers in recent years, with police repeatedly warning that international networks are exploiting the country’s porous borders and weak enforcement. Past cases have involved Chinese, Vietnamese and Western nationals, often linked to production facilities hidden in Phnom Penh or coastal provinces. Officials say the appeal lies in Cambodia’s location as a transit point, with drugs moving onwards to Thailand, Vietnam and beyond.

The latest arrests highlight how traffickers are diversifying products to target younger users. Cannabis edibles, packaged like ordinary sweets, pose particular risks because they can be consumed unknowingly or in excessive doses. Police stress that such products are illegal under Cambodian law, which imposes heavy penalties for possession and trafficking.

Over 100,000 Cambodians are estimated to struggle with drug addiction, and the government has stepped up raids in response to public concern. Yet campaigners argue that enforcement alone cannot solve the problem, pointing to the need for better rehabilitation services and regional cooperation.

For now, the focus remains on dismantling networks operating inside the country. The Phnom Penh arrests, involving both locals and foreigners, underline the scale of Cambodia’s challenge in tackling narcotics while balancing its role as a regional crossroads.

-2026-07-28